Our History

The AA&A started in 1969 and is considered the oldest, and still active organization on campus to date. The three main reasons for forming the organization were to build unity within USI employees, to learn ways to improve professionally, and to establish an endowed scholarship to help eligible USI students.

Twelve secretaries formed the organization of Secretaries of ISUE on October 21, 1969. Today the organization has grown in membership, in activity, and the goals are met annually through the efforts of the members. Fundraisers, such as card parties, candy sales, basket raffles, apple butter sales, craft sales and participation in the Ohio Arts Festival, have proven successful in providing the scholarships for students in need. Members participate in other projects for fun-filled luncheons, parties and get togethers. Guest speakers are invited to further enhance the lives of the members and provide entertainment as well as hints on improving oneself as a USI employee and as a person.

In March, 2005 the organization changed its name to Administrative, Assistants and Associates. This is to reflect more appropriately our place in the USI community.

In September 2009, the AA&A Celebrated its 40th Year at USI. Founder and honorary member, Mary Lue Russler, delivered a speech at the 40th Anniversary Luncheon.

In May 2014 the AA&A celebrated 45 years helping USI students continue their education through their endowed scholarship fund.

Archives

The Administrative Assistant and Associates past minutes, programs and pictures going back as far as 1969 are all housed in Rice Library University Archives.

Listing of archived materials from 1969 up through 2010.

Apple Butter Fundraising 1978-1988

Through the efforts of many members, and even some non-members, and with approval and cooperation with university administrators and faculty, we raised a lot of money through our fund-raisers.

We held card parties and style shows. Our first card party was held in the Temporary Union Building (TUB), a portable building put up on the west side of the administration/classroom building.

For several years we made and sold apple butter at the Virgil C. Eicher Barn on campus. Joni Jost was the first apple butter chairman in 1978. This venture was a success because of many people peeling apples, stirring, canning and selling. But most of all we could not have done it without the help of Harry Thompson, who brought his copper-lined kettles to the campus and showed us how to make the apple butter. Nearly 500 pints were sold at the University's open house each year for about ten years.

Over the years we sold candy, pizzas and flower bulbs. We held raffles, bake sales and craft fairs. We held Hacienda fund-raisers and Blue Jeans for Babies button sales. We sold food at the Ohio River Arts Festivals for several years. We sold cookbooks and USI pins and earrings, and we had numerous white elephant sales.

With our proceeds, we gave thousands of dollars in scholarships to needy and worthy students, and even gave scholarships to club members for a period of time. We established a scholarship endowment, the interest of which is used to award even more scholarships.

Taken in part from Mary Lue Russler's AA&A's 40th year history remarks.